SUMMER!

That's right folks, even though I still sleep with a blanket and a comforter at night the days are finally warming up enough for swimming pools, sweat-in-your-eyes labor in the garden, and tomato blooms. I know, I know, that is the paradox that is Colorado.
Greg is making a little extra money this week because a small storm blew through with some big hail that damaged a lot of cars. He's working 12 hour days for the whole week and into the weekend. We don't see him much and when we do he's tired but it's not for long and we can always use a few extra bucks.
The baby horses are growing nicely and providing much comedy relief with their many discoveries and playtimes. Juno has found a home with a wonderful couple who plan to train her for dressage and eventing which is just what this baby was born to do. I dream about her dancing under lights in front of a judge's station some day. Still no bites on Scarlett, the little speed-racer or little red corvette but there's plenty of time and I'm not worried because with each day she develops more personality and athleticism that will take her wonderful places.
I'm mourning the loss of my big boy. We found a great home for Bram and Casey up in Wyoming where they can not only be together but they can have jobs! I know this was the very best solution for them but my Big Boy hugs and kisses are no longer a part of my life and I miss that more than even I could have imagined. I still have my wondrous girl Fiona and she submits to my spontaneous and impulsive displays of affection with patience and a little exasperation so I'll be okay. Dixie is also very willing to hug and I like her sweet personality more each day.
Today I got up eager (really? eager?) to go out and till up the garden to get rid of some of the weed problems. In a little less than an hour I'd managed to clear the area where all the melons and cukes and zukes are planted. I'd also managed to develop two very nice sized blisters and hurt my back. Yea! Once again the empty raised bed at the end of the row stared back at me accusingly. The transplanted asparagus and rhubarb didn't make it through the move so I decided we needed to go spend some of Greg's storm pay. We bought 18 strawberry plants to replace those that died in the other beds, 3 different melons, 4 rhubarb plants and a pumpkin. Rissa, the extreme wrestler, dug my holes for me and Winnie and Annie and I planted.....hmmmmm, it just occurred to me that my younger sons must have some belief that gardening is womens' work. I'll have to introduce them to some new ideas soon. My back is already aching from tilling, bending, weeding and planting so tomorrow I should be in the most wondrous shape.
To pay the kids back for their ....help I bought some crap at the store so they could have a picnic. Kids are so easy. Buy them some ham, chips, a pop and call it a picnic and they plant garden for you.
In other news my mother, at the age of 71 has begun a small business. She is hand-embroidering kitchen towels for women who order them from her. I just encouraged her to raise her prices as she was just charging for material (well, I never said it was a successful business) and not for her time. Now she's making a nice profit though she doesn't sleep anymore because she's trying to get orders done for birthdays, before vacations and when the social security check comes.
Greg's mother on the other hand appears to be doing poorly. She no longer goes out because she "gets short of breath" though apparently no one knows exactly why she isn't able to breathe. I worry about her a lot. She used to have such a big world with so many friends and interests and no her whole life has shrunk to a little room where she slowly suffocates literally and figuratively.
And that's all the news that's fit to print!